Virtual Challenge Program Overview

Challenge Team member posing for a selfie in an elementary school gym

Strong4Life Challenge is a yearlong elementary school program designed to help create positive school environments by promoting healthy habits through interactive virtual visits, resources and support.

Why Strong4Life Challenge?

At Children’s Strong4Life, we want to support your school’s wellness goals by focusing on healthy habits. Research shows that students who practice healthy habits do better at all levels of academic achievement (academic performance, cognitive skills, behavior and attitudes). And we are committed to helping create healthy school environments where students can learn and thrive.

What can you expect with Challenge?

Kickoff Event: Strong4Life will provide a short, prerecorded video to be played schoolwide introducing the program, introducing the Challenge Team and helping create excitement around healthy habits.
Wellness Pledge: Are you ready for the Challenge? To help create a healthy school environment, your school pledges to promote healthy habits. We’ll provide you with items and suggestions on how to implement this into your school.

Photo of the live action camera filming the virtual pep rally

Virtual Fall Pep Rally: The Strong4Life Challenge Team will host a 10-minute virtual, interactive pep rally during morning announcements, homeroom or specials, etc., to get students excited about the four Strong4Life healthy habits.
Virtual Spring Follow-Up Video Visits: From January to May, your school will receive 1 healthy habit video each month, led by the energetic Strong4Life Challenge Team, to share with your school and continue the conversations around healthy habits.
Resources and materials: To help support your wellness goals, your school will receive tangible resources in the fall and spring (including posters and water bottles), along with access to an online hub full of downloadable resources to display around the school and share with teachers, students and parents.

A Strong4Life coping skills poster and feelings poster hanging up on elementary school wall

How can you implement Challenge in your school?

As an educator or staff member in a Challenge school, you have access to all the resources on our online hub. From flyers and printables, to brain-break videos and lessons with activities, we encourage you to incorporate these items into your classroom, display on bulletin boards or share on school announcements. Reach out to your Wellness Champion team for more guidance around specific events.

Strong4Life Challenge Team posing with school nutrition staff

Who are the Wellness Champions?

The Wellness Champions are a group of individuals, selected by your school, to serve as the team who oversees the program, promotes Strong4Life and helps create a positive school environment. Anyone can serve on this team. In fact, we encourage a variety of roles—from school nurses and PE teachers to school nutrition managers, administrative staff, media specialists and parent liaisons.

Throughout the year, Wellness Champions will receive monthly emails from Strong4Life. Each month will focus on a different healthy habit and highlight resources from the online hub to share with students, caregivers and staff.

What resources will your school receive?

Your school will receive items throughout the year to promote and encourage healthy habits. While we have provided suggestions below on how to use these items, feel free to incorporate these items in other creative ways!

Reusable water bottles: Distribute water bottles to all students, teachers and staff after your kickoff event, and encourage them to bring the bottles to school each day. Choosing to drink water during the day will help students (and staff) stay hydrated and ready to learn.
Posters: Display these posters throughout the school in high-traffic areas. We’ve included various posters promoting physical activity, nutrition and emotional wellness.